CASEY SEAMAN
v.
ALLISON L. SEAMAN

Fla. 5th DCA | 2019-03-22
No. 18-2080
Bass, J., Cohen, J., Eisnaugle, J., Sasso, J.
266 So. 3d 1265 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fifth District (2019)

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Holding

A trial court must comply with Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.615(c)(2)(B) and cannot find a defendant in indirect civil contempt for failure to pay without the defendant present at the hearing to establish present ability to pay and willfulness.


Headnotes

[1] In an indirect civil contempt proceeding for failure to pay, the trial court must comply with Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.615(c)(2)(B), which requires the def…

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Facts & Procedural History

Casey Seaman was found in indirect civil contempt by the trial court for failure to pay. Seaman was not present at the contempt hearing.…

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Opinion of the Court
Sasso

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

FIFTH DISTRICT

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO

FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND

DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED

CASEY SEAMAN,

Appellant,

v. Case No. 5D18-2080

ALLISON L. SEAMAN,

Appellee.

________________________________/

Opinion filed March 22, 2019

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Marion County, Jennifer Bass, Judge.

Michael V. Laurato, of Austin & Laurato, P.A., Tampa, for Appellant.

Cheri A. Russell, of Cheri A. Russell, P.A. Ocala, for Appellee.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant, Casey Seaman, appeals the trial court’s order finding him in indirect civil contempt, arguing, inter alia, that the trial court failed to comply with Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.615(c)(2)(B). Appellant asserts that because he was not present at the contempt hearing, the trial court erred when it found that he had a present ability to pay and that his failure to pay was willful. We agree and note that Appellee properly concedes error on this point.

2

We therefore reverse the order finding Appellant in indirect civil contempt and remand for the trial court to consider Appellant’s present ability to pay and willfulness in compliance with the procedure set forth in rule 12.615(c)(2)(B).

REVERSED and REMANDED.

COHEN, EISNAUGLE and SASSO, JJ., concur.


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